Puddy
12-03-2005, 05:42 AM
Reported by John Roach and written by Patrick Abbott
National Geographic Kids News
September 16, 2005
In the near future, you might be an alternative fuel source. Scientists in the Asian country of Singapore have created a battery powered by urine.
The scientists were making computer "biochips" to test for diseases like diabetes, but they did not have a battery small enough to power the chips. Then they realized that the substance being tested with the chips—urine—could power the devices. Urine can power the battery because it contains negatively charged electronic particles called ions.
The battery consists of a piece of paper soaked in a chemical called copper chloride and sandwiched by strips of copper and magnesium. A coating of see-through plastic protects the battery. When urine enters the battery though a small slit, a chemical reaction starts that generates electricity. The battery creates the same energy as a standard AA battery (1.5 volts) and can run for about 90 minutes.
The same technology can use other body fluids to create power. Ki Bang Lee, one of the inventors of the urine battery, said it could also run on tears, blood, and saliva. Lee gave an example of powering a cell phone with saliva to make a call during an emergency.
Daniel Kammen of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California-Berkley said that the battery technology "can do all kinds of things" one day like power laptop computers, mp3 players, televisions, and even cars! Kammen says the wide number of applications for cheap and efficient biofluid-powered batteries illustrates the value of basic research. "Investigation leads to innovation," he said.
from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com
National Geographic Kids News
September 16, 2005
In the near future, you might be an alternative fuel source. Scientists in the Asian country of Singapore have created a battery powered by urine.
The scientists were making computer "biochips" to test for diseases like diabetes, but they did not have a battery small enough to power the chips. Then they realized that the substance being tested with the chips—urine—could power the devices. Urine can power the battery because it contains negatively charged electronic particles called ions.
The battery consists of a piece of paper soaked in a chemical called copper chloride and sandwiched by strips of copper and magnesium. A coating of see-through plastic protects the battery. When urine enters the battery though a small slit, a chemical reaction starts that generates electricity. The battery creates the same energy as a standard AA battery (1.5 volts) and can run for about 90 minutes.
The same technology can use other body fluids to create power. Ki Bang Lee, one of the inventors of the urine battery, said it could also run on tears, blood, and saliva. Lee gave an example of powering a cell phone with saliva to make a call during an emergency.
Daniel Kammen of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California-Berkley said that the battery technology "can do all kinds of things" one day like power laptop computers, mp3 players, televisions, and even cars! Kammen says the wide number of applications for cheap and efficient biofluid-powered batteries illustrates the value of basic research. "Investigation leads to innovation," he said.
from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com